Domestic violence up 500 percent in Grand County

Victim calls are up 500 to 700 percent since November, according to Grand County’s Advocates Victim Assistance Team, the non-profit with a mission to end domestic and sexual violence in the Grand County Community.

The organization updated Grand County Commissioners on Tuesday about the rise of people needing help during slumped economic times.

The organization has been receiving 5 to 7 calls a day opposed to 5 to 7 calls a week, according to Advocates’ report.

The number of people the organization has helped to relocate out of Grand County has doubled, they said.

Because Grand County does not have a local safe house, such measures are necessary in some cases.

County Manager Lurline Underbrink Curran said it continues to be a county goal to help with the creation of a safe house.

According to Advocates, the Mountain Family Center and other Samaritan organizations are seeing the same increase in requests for help.